Sand smoothing device for golf players



June 9, 1925' v 1,541,643

H. v. HENDRICKS SAND SMOOTHING DEVICE FOR GOLF PLAYERS Filed Aug. 12,1924 I 17 Vf/adzba INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,541,643 rricn PATENT HIRALE VIRGIL HENIQRICKS, OFOKLAHOMA CITY, QKLAE-IOMA, ASSIGNOR E ONE-HALF TO GUY A, CROOKS, 0FOKLAHOMA CITY, BKLAHO'MA.

SAND SMOOFIHING DEVICE FOR GOLF PLAYERS.

Application filed August 12, 19%. Serial 1510. 731,855.

[0 all wit-om may concern.

Be it known that I, HIRAM Verena Hare muons, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oklahoma City, in the county of Gklahoma and Stateof Oklahoma, have invented a'new and useful Improvement in SandSmoothing Devices for Golf Players, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to sand smoothing devices for use by golfplayers.

The object is to provide a device to be used principally by golf playersfor the pur-' pose of smoothing the sand in the immediate locality ofthe ball, w hen the latter has stopped in such places, and to provide alevel free from inequalities, so that the go if'er may fairly strike theball in putting.

Another object is to provide such a device in a strong and durable formand of mlDlI-fltlH-l weight, the said device acting on the sand in amanner to leave no ridges or depressions or marginal lineswhen'manipulated in the same manner as an ordinary hoe, and beingcapable of being folded and l readily placed and carriedin a golf tooccupy no more space therein than one of the golf c-lubs,.the devicebeing also easily and quickly adjusted for use by simple means andconstructed in a manner and of as material that will permit of itsmanufacture at a low cost.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained froma consideration of the following detailed desa scription, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification; it being understood that while the drawing shows apractical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to-i=i strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed ormodified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention, as specificallypointed out in the appended claims.

d e on the smo hing head.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a smoothing head 1, formed of alength of suitable hard wood, or other material, the length found tobeef the most practical value being about fifteen inches. The head isround in cross section and .of a uniform diameter throughout its length,the diameter being referably about one inch, and the ends 2 of the sameare rounded intc hemispherical form having a diameter to merge into theparallel sides of the head, se that when the smoother is drawn acrossthe sandthere will be no line of demarkation as would be formed were theends cut off square.

Intermediate of the ends of the head 1, there is initially provided atransverse slot 3, oblong in cross section and extending only partwaythrough the smoothing head 1. Into this slot is adapted to be. driven tshank 4: of an eye 5., formed integrally tr preferably of brass so as toavoid rust the said shank being of a size and shape to correspond to theslot 3, .or slightly larger than the same. Gn the fiat sides cf theshank there are provided a series of ridges or teeth 6., the outer facesof which are perpendicular to the axis of the shank to engage the woodand prevent the same from pulling out, while the other faces areinclined to facilitate the entrance of the shank in said slot. Othermeans may be used to supplement this.

A ferrule 7 preferably formed of brass, is bifurcated at one end to formspaced arms 8, each having an aperture 9, one of which is threaded, andsaid ferrule is pivotally connected to the aforesaid eye 5 by means of athumb screw 10, having its shank traversing the apertures of the ferrulearms and the eye 5.

The threaded end of the thumb screw shank engages the threads of theaperture 9, and a shoulder 11 of the thumb screw serves to bind theferrule in any adjusted position within a semi-circle, when the saidscrew is turned to force the shoulder into contact.

The outer, free end of the ferrule is open, and the reduced end of anelongated handle 12 is adapted to be driven thereinto and held by across pin, or in any other desired manner. The length of the handle issuch as to enable the operator to draw the smoothing head across theground when grasping the handle at or near the end.

This relatively short handle enables the device to be readily placed ina golf bag along with the clubs, wnen the head is folded into theposition shown in 'Figure 2, with the head arranged parallel with thehandle and held by the thumb screw. l/Vhen itris desired to use thedevice for smoothin the sand, it is only necessary to loosen the screw,turn the head to a position perpendio,

ular to the handle and tighten again From the foregoing it Will be seenthat a simple, cheaply-manufactured, strong and durable device has beenprovided for the purpose of smoothing the ground for golfers, and onethat may be quickly adjusted for use, or for placing within a golf bagor the like, and :that the manner of attaching the handle to the headserves to prevent ac cidental separation of the parts.

What is claimed is: r

1. A sand smoothing device for golf players use, comprising a smoothinghead round in cross section and of elongated form, a handle pivoted tothe head intermediate of the ends of the latter, and means for bindingthe handle in any position relative to the head about the axis of itspivot.

2. A sand smoothing device for golf players" use, comprising anelongated wooden head of uniform diameter throughout its length andhaving its ends rounded, an elongated operating handle'pivoted at oneend to the center of the head, andmeans for binding the handle in aposition perpendicular to the head or parallel thereto.

3. A sand smoothing device for golf players use, comprising an elongatedhead formed of wood of equal diameter throughout and having its endsformed semi-sperically, a metallic ferrule pivoted centrally to the headto swing in a semi-circle parallel thereto, means for holding theferrule in eye, a handle secured in the ferrule, and a thumb screw forbinding the ferrule and eye in different positions.

5. A sand smoothing device for golf players use, comprising a smoothinghead formed of wood round in cross section and having its ends roundedto merge therewith, said head ,having a ce11trallylocated, transverseslot extending partway through the same, a shank adapted to be driveninto the slot and having ribs or teeth to engage the wood and retain theshank, an eye formed in the exposed end of the shank, a ferrule havingspaced arms at one end in straddle the eye said arms having aperturesone of which is threaded, a handle secured in the ferrule, and athumbscrew for binding the arms to the eye in difierent positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 'my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature.

HIRAM VIRGIL HENDRICKS.

